Cases of skin cancer in Scotland have increased by almost a third in a decade, with men more at risk than women, new figures show.
The incidence rate of malignant melanoma rose by 30.3% between 2003 and 2013, according to the latest cancer statistics from ISD Scotland.
The rate for men increased by 38% compared to 22% for women.
In 2013 alone there were 1,172 diagnoses of melanoma, making it the sixth most common cancer in Scotland.
Scotland’s chief medical officer Dr Catherine Calderwood urged Scots to take more care in the sun.
She said: “The best way to cut your chances of getting melanoma is to reduce your exposure to the sun and avoid using sunbeds.
“The most common symptom of melanoma is a new mole or a change in the appearance of an existing mole.
“Melanomas are usually irregular in shape and contain more than one colour. They can be larger than usual moles and might itch or bleed.
“If you have any of these symptoms, make an appointment at your GP surgery as soon as possible.”
Public health minister Maureen Watt said: “These statistics show that unprotected exposure to the sun can be dangerous.
“Simple precautions like wearing a hat, covering up, and using a high-factor sunscreen mean you can still enjoy the sun without putting your health at risk.
“Using sunbeds is also potentially unsafe and is illegal for under-18s. Scotland was the first country in the UK to introduce this age restriction, and for good reason.”
The number of cancers diagnosed in Scotland increased from 27,095 cases in 2003 to 31,013 in 2013, excluding non-melanoma skin cancer.
Statisticians attribute the rise to an ageing population and point out that survival rates are also increasing.
Over the same ten-year period, the rates of all cancers fell by 4% for men but increased by 7% for women.
Lung cancer is still the most common cancer in Scotland, with 5,124 cases diagnosed in 2013, or 17% of all cancers.
There were 4,697 cases (15%) of breast cancer and 3,812 cases of colorectal cancer (12%).
It is estimated that two in five people in Scotland will be diagnosed with some form of cancer during their lifetime.